Turntable



H. E. MOORE.

TURNTABLE.

APPLICATION FILED IvIAY 20. I92I.

1,408,379, Patented Feb. 28, 1922.

2 SHEETS-*SHEET l. I x

atto'cnu H. E. MOORE.

TURNTABLE.

APFUCATION FILED n MAM 20,1921.

Patented Feb.A 28, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

HE Moore,

UNITED STATES HARVEY E. MOORE, 0F PEORIA, ILLINOIS.

TURNTABLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 20, 1921. Serial No. 471,265.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, HARVEY E. MOORE, a citizen of the United States, 'residing at Peoria, in the county of Peoria and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Turntables; and I do hereby declare thaty the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

This invention 'relates to4 turntables, pertaining more particularly to a turntable for receiving upon it motor cars of any weight and of any length ofwheelbase.

An object of the invention is to provide a very simpleturntable structure that will take any weight of vehicle and any length of wheelbase, supportingV it wholly clear of the floor and which will permit said vehicle to be turned to a desired position with but little effort.`

Another 'object is,z that of furnishing an exceedingly simple type of turntable for mou ttor vehicles that willtake up a'minimum of floor space, that can be readily and easily moved 'from place to place, and that will not` require a supporting track.

To the end that my invention may be readily understood the accompanying drawing is provided wherein:

Figure 1 iS a side elevation of a turntable of my invention. 1

Figure 2 shows, in perspective, the same type of turntable.

Figure 3 is a transverse section of one of the channel members of the same.

Figure 4 is a longitudinalasectional eleva- .tion 0f one of the wheel-Supporting parts 40 and an auxiliary portion used therewith.

Figure 5 is a plan of a slightly modified form of turntable.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the same.o

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail of parts shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional elevation of certain parts shown in Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a side elevation of parts shown in Figure 6 ymuch enlarged.

Figure 10 is a transverse sectional elevation of what is shown in Figure 9, and,

Figure 11'is a., side elevation of parts shown in a different position from those in Figure 7.

The purpose ofl my invention, as intimated in the objects, is -toenablea person singlehanded, if desired, to place a vehicle upon a support upon which it will be elevated clear of the floor surface and then swing said vehicle end -for end or in any other position preliminary to placing it in a desired .stall in a garage, for example.

ychannel members each supported at the middle of its length upon a wheel 2, being sustained at about one-shalf inch above the floor surface.

Between and connecting the members 1 are fiat tie-plates 3 for holding them rigid relatively, but other means may be em.- ployed for obtaining the desired result. However, those shown are preferable since Patented Feb.`28, 1922..

they are comparatively thin and lie close to the floor surface.

lThough I may not use them, I preferably pivot withinneach channel member 1 at the mouth thereof at each end, an approach consisting of a channel member 4 having a liared outer end 5 to rest upon the floor when the vehicle-is being mounted on the structure. The inner ends of the severalapproaches are preferably heavier than the outer ends so that their normal positions are as shown at the right of Figure 2. The

approaches shown at the left are shown inside at each endis a pin orstld 7 adapted,

to pass through a hole 8 in the bottom of said member, Figures 3 and 4, to bear directly upon the fioor surface.

Preferably, at each end of each member 1 is a roller 9 set at the proper angle to roll about a circular course as the apparatus is turned end for end. Said rollers 'are mounted on suitable supports 10 as will be understood.

In the modified type of device shown in Figure 5, and those following, 11 indicates two I-beams, for example, supported at the middle lengths on wheels 11. They are tied together parallel to one another by rods 12 which pass through them; being secured relatively to said I-beams by nuts 13, for example, Figure 8. The outer ends of said rods 12 each has a head 14 whose purpose will presently appear.

15-15 indicates sepa-rate members of a pair of castings pivotally connected at 16, Figures 6, 7, and 11, said members at their pivoted end being so constructed as to be limited in their movement relatively in one direction. For instance, as shown in said Figure 11, each has a shoulder 17 above the pivot point which prevents them moving downward beyond a certain position, the

joint provided bein likened into the jointl between the blade o a pocket-knife and its handle. These castings lie outside the I- beams and each is notched at 18 between the pivot 16 and their free ends to receive the rods 12, described, upon which said castings are supported, the heads 14 of said rods retaining the latter in position. The ends of the outermost casting are beveled so as to provide an easy approach for the vehiclewheels in mounting them.

2O indicates a pair of widely spaced rods or bars which extend through the) vertical web of each -beam and project beyond them at their outer sides terminating in heads 21.

22 is a plank at each side of the structure, each notched at its underside at 23 to engage the said rods 20, Figures Gand 10.

The said rods lie in vertical slots 24 within each of which is a coil spring 25, Figures 9 and 10, upon which the rods rest and upon which the weight of said planks may be at least partially supported. The rods have collars 26, one at each side of the web of the I-beams, to prevent longitudinal movement thereof with respect to the said beams.

In either form described, the purpose isthat of substantially balancing the vehicle upon the centrally disposed supportingwheels of the apparatus. Further, that as the wheels of the vehicle mount the apparatus, there will be no tendency of the latter to skld upon impact of the said vehicle,but this will now be understood together with the manner in which the whole structure will, for ractical purposes, be substantially clear of tie fioor to vatl'ord free turning.

In the form rst described, the members 4, Figure l, are so close to the iloor, due to Itheir weights directly downward upon them so that skidding cannot take place. Now,

as the wheels approach the center or rather the middle length of the channel members 1, they at once pass up'on the planks 6 whereupon their pins or studs 7 are made vto support the weight of the front end of the vehicle through said front wheels. Then upon passing over the center of support, the wheels ,2, theapparatus will naturally tip downward at the far end, the forward end or that of approach, being necessarily raised to a position where the rear wheels in striking the members 4 aforesaid, would tend perhaps to skid the apparatus.

However, since the front wheels still hold the studs of the plank 6 firmly on the floor, this skidding cannot occur. The rear wheels, therefore, properlymount the apparatus whereupon the vehicle having been substantially balancedv over the said wheels 2, a minimum of hand pressure applied at one end or the other of the vehicle will balance it sufficiently to enable the wholev affair to be easily swung as upon a pivot. Although the use of the members 4 is perhaps preferred, they may not be used, merely depending upon the planks 6 and the friction of their studs 7 upon the floor.

The other form herein described is used in the same way. In this case, the wheels in meeting the castings 15 that project beyond the I-beams 11, take the position shown in Figure 6 as the wheels strike them, said wheels then being imposed upon the planks 22 to carry them upon the floor to serve the same purpose as described with reference to the planks 6 of the first form described. The upward tilting of the approach end of the I-beam will result in the pair of castings 15 tilting to a greater angle, as in Figure 11, to provide an easy mounting of the rear wheels. The vehicle havin been mounted, its wheels-will rest upon t e said castings 15 at their pivotally connected ends raising the said castings from the Hoor or as shown in Figure 7.

The whole apparatus may now be swung end for end, or at least to any desired position with respect to the position held during mounting.

The castings 15 may be a single member,

that is to say, not pivoted in two parts as described and shown, merely dependingr upon the frictional engagement of the planks 22 with the floor to prevent skidding when the rear wheels strlke the slightly raised approach. In other words, since the planks 6 and 22 move with respect to channel members 1 or the I-beams 11, respectively, in the two forms of apparatus, friction with the Hoor must always result, so that skidding will be prevented, the pivotal approaches being used as an additional mounting aid. f

The tie plates 3 are purposely set-close to the floor surface that the vehicle wheels may easily pass over them between the channel members when the turn table happens to lie in the path of the same as the vehicle is moved about a garage or other place wherein the turn table may be used.

My device is of such construction, and so adapted, that no track or equivalent means is required,1 and no parts are required to lock the supporting wheels either automatically or manually, nor is any means' required to v raise the device to a balanced position, since after mounting the vehicle the driver thereof may by4 hand balance the weighted turn table and readily swing it to the desired position, at notime requiring an assistant.

l may make slight changes, of course, such as will fairly fall within the invention and the claims. f llclaim:

1. A turntable for vehicles including in its construction a support to receive `and carry the vehicle, a substantially central mounting for the support upon which it is designed to pivot, and means normally free to turn with said support adapted to be moved into frictional engagement with the floor surface between the position of the front and rear wheels of said vehicle.

2. Aturntable for vehicles including in its construction a support to receive and carry the vehicle, a mounting for the support at substantially the middle of the length thereof upon which said support it is designed to pivot, .and means normally free to'turn with saidv support adapted to be moved into frictional engagementl with4 the loor surface between the ends of said support by the weight of the front wheels of said vehicle thereon during the act of mounting, the same being released when the' -vehicle is mounted. l

3. A turntable for vehicles including in its construction, a support to receive and carry the vehicle, a rolling mounting carrying the support at substantially the middle Aof its length upon which it is designed to n free to move with said support when the vehicle is fully mounted and free of said means.

4. A turntable for vehicles including in its construction, a support to receive and carry the vehicle, a substantially central rolling -of the vehicle is imposed thereon but normally free to move with said support over said surface when the vehicle is'fully mounted, and an iapproach pivotally mounted at one end of the support.

5. A turntable for vehicles including in its -construction a pair of spaced runways for receiving the wheels of a vehicle, a floor engaging member included with one of them lying substantially at the middle of the length thereof spaced at its ends from the extremities of the same, and mountings for said runways upon which the latter are substantially balanced.

6.]A turntable for vehicles including in its construction a pairlof spaced rigidly related runways for the wheels of a vehicle, a wheel mounting for the same upon which said support is substantially balanced, and a member asa part of each runway disposed substantially at the middle of the length thereof adapted when wheels of the vehicle rest thereon to frictionally engage the iloor and normally free to move over the floor when the wheels are removed therefrom.

7. A turntable for vehicles including in its construction a pair of spaced channel members, a wheel mounting disposed substantially at the balancing point of said members, and a member lying in each of the said channel members substantially at the middle of the length thereof including extensions to depend through the said channel members to engage the floor.

8. A turntable for vehicles including in its construction a pair of spaced channel members, a wheel mounting disposed sub-` stantially at the balancing point of said members, a member lying in each of the said channel members substantially at the middle of the length thereof including extensions to depend through the said chan- .,nel members to engage the floor, and ap- .ment with the floor between said ends in the mounting of the vehicle.

l0. A turntable for a vehicle including a support, a mounting carrying it at substantially the middle of its length, and a member disposed between the ends of the support including extensions adapted to be held frictionally upon the floor surface between said ends of the support when the Veythat supports the turntable, and spacing hicle wheels rest thereon and released when members extending between and near the the wheels are removed therefrom. bottom of the runways connecting them.

1l. A turntable for vehicles including in In testimony whereof I aiiX my signature 5 its construction .a pair of parallel spaced in presence of two witnesses.

runways and a mounting therefor disposed substantially midway between their ends, n HARVEY E MOORE' a member. disposed in each runway at sub` Witnesses:

stantially the middle of their lengths, each J. H. KINGSBURY,

10 including an extension to engage the surface a L. M. THURLOW. 

